Monday, May 28, 2012

Here is my favorite example of any western "slug plate" whiskey. According to Thomas, John Carroll started his wholesale liquor endeavor in 1859 at No. 50 First Street in San Francisco. In 1860 he brought his son Richard T. into the business as his bookkeeper and in 1869 Richard was a full partner in the company. In 1870 Richard Carroll formed a partnership with Richard Brainerd & Co. and in 1874 Richard bought Brainerd's interest in the company, and the firm became R.T. Carroll & Co.
The R.T. Carrol fifth is one of the earliest "slug plate" style whiskeys, if not the earliest. As to it's scarcity, it is one of the most difficult to obtain, and one of the few with that sacred embossing "sole agents". The 2002 Thomas book indicated there were 2 examples known to collectors, however I believe there are seven specimens known today. I believe it dates to the mid to later 1870s.

This particular example is untypically crude for a slug plate with heavy whittle effect, swirls , and shades from yellow, to a deep golden amber. I have handled three R.T.Carroll fifths to date, and one was quite plain, and I have heard of at least one other example ( ex-Eastley, Terry, now Kille) which is also crude. I would be interested to know where the known examples were found, and I believe this one was dug in Hollister, Ca. several years ago.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Here is a subject we have posted about in the past. The W.S. Wright bottles that were found in a deep hole behind the old Wright building in V.C. It was surmised that possibly the first batch of bottles that were delivered to William Wright, from the Pacific Glass Works, were of such poor quality that they were unusable.

If you haven't had a chance to see Fred Holabird's new book NEVADA HISTORY THROUGH GLASSVolume I, I recommend you pick up a copy. They are available through Holabird Americana on the web, or through ebay DND Collectables. About 30 bucks including postage. Hardback, 340+ pages, loaded with information and pictures. It is a tremendous book! Volume II is coming later this year, Nevada pharmacy bottles and medicines.

Reportedly the hole, dug in 1989, was nearly 36 feet deep with a solid layer of broken W.S. Wright sodas. Estimated at several thousand broken bottles, a few intact examples did survive. Interesting story about it in Fred's book.